SCOTLAND LIFTS BAN ON HOMOSEXUAL ADVOCACY IN SCHOOLS,
BRITISH TO LOWER HOMOSEXUAL AGE OF CONSENT

Direct slap in the face of Scotland's Cardinal Winning

EDINBURGH (CWNews.com) - Two days after the British House
of Lords voted to retain Section 28 which bans the
promotion of homosexuality in schools, the Scottish
Parliament yesterday voted to scrap the legislation north
of the border.

The Scottish Executive argued Section 28 prevents teachers
from preventing homophobic bullying and MSPs backed the
repeal by 88 votes to 18, with three abstentions.

MSP Michael Matheson told the BBC: "Some of our people are
gay. Some of our children will be gay. Whether as a parent
or as a concerned citizen, it is our duty to care for, to
nourish, and to support all our nation's children."

But Anne Allen, convenor of the Church of Scotland's Board
of Social Responsibility, said statutory safeguards were
vital. "In 12 years since this act was in place we don't
appear to have had any problems, any worried parents or any
issues, simply because there has been a sanction and there
has been legislation in place," she said. "If you remove
that legislation what are you left with -- guidelines that
are going to be toothless?"

The Scottish Executive has announced a working party to
review what pupils can be taught about homosexuality. The
group comprises representatives of parents, churches and
teachers and includes John O'Keane, head teacher of
Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, North Lanarkshire,
and John Oates, representing the Catholic Education
Commission.

Meanwhile in London, Britain's Parliament voted
overwhelmingly in favor of reducing the age of consent for
homosexuals from 18 to 16. The legislation was passed in
the House of Commons by 263 votes to 102.

The bill now goes to the House of Lords, where it is bound
to be opposed but the government has signaled that is is
ready to use special powers to force the change through
Parliament.

The sexual offenses (amendment) bill will end the anomaly
that heterosexuals and lesbians can consent to sex at 16
while homosexuals have to wait until 18.

Opening the debate, Home Secretary Jack Straw said lowering
the age would create a more tolerant society. "For me the
issue raised in this bill is one of equality," he said, "of
seeking to create a society which is free from prejudice, of
one where our relationships with others, including with
strangers, are based upon respect and not upon fear."

But Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe, a Catholic,
described the bill as "a dangerous move," sending the wrong
signals to teachers, parents and young people. "It is wrong
that a young person of 16 should be free in law to embark
on a course of action that might lead to a lifestyle which
would separate him, maybe permanently, from the mainstream
life of marriage and family," she said.

The government is introducing the move after a ruling that
the existing law was a breach of the European Convention on
Human Rights. The House of Lords has twice rejected the
proposal since 1997.